The ETSU women’s soccer team scored three goals within a four-minute period in the first half, as the Bucs went on to defeat Tennessee Wesleyan 4-0 in the home opener Monday afternoon at Summers-Taylor Stadium.”It’s always good to come out and win at home,” said head coach Heather Henson. “With today being the first day of school at ETSU, this was a tough day mentally for us, and I think the team really handled it well and played great.

“We are still trying to get things clicking on all cylinders and today we showed some signs of that. Hopefully we can come back out on Thursday and continue to play well.”

The Bucs (2-0-1) were stingy defensively, allowing only two shots on the night as keepers Megan Masch (Virginia Beach, Va.) and Caitlin Gaughan (Indianapolis, Ind.) combined to shutout the Lady Bulldogs (0-1-0).

Offensively, ETSU dominated the contest taking 22 shots in the match, while having an 11-1 advantage in corners.

Both teams were a little sluggish to start the game, but the Bucs got things going in the 35th minute when freshman Samantha Kron (Paradise Valley, Ariz.) beautifully placed a bending corner kick into the opposite side of the net to put the Buccaneers up 1-0.

Sophomore Tori Head (Kingsport, Tenn.) continued the scoring in the 38th minute as she beat the keeper to the ball in the goal area just getting enough of the ball to send it into the goal to give ETSU a 2-0 advantage.

The Buccaneers didn’t waste anytime picking up their third goal of the half in the 39th minute when Morgan Jutras (Colleyville, Texas) and Hannah Goffe (Birmingham, England) combined to find an open Ramey Kerns (Kings Mountain, N.C.) for a header goal to the make the score 3-0.

ETSU had a couple more chances late in the first half but did not find the back of the net as the Bucs took a 3-0 into the half. In the second half, the Buccaneers continued to put pressure on the Tennessee Wesleyan defense earning eight corners in the half.

Senior Kelly Brinkman (Clearwater, Fla.) gave ETSU its final goal of the afternoon in the 81st minute as Brinkman headed a loose ball in the penalty area past a diving Lady Bulldog keeper to make the final 4-0.

The Bucs will put their undefeated record on the line on Thursday at 7 p.m. as they host King College in the second of a two-game home stand this week.

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